Red Headed Stranger

3/4

Love his vibe

Didn’t dislike this as much as expected, reeaaallyyyy quick each song. Fav: Just as I am

Standouts I Couldn't Believe it was True Bandera

Pleasant. I've not had great experience with country and this list so far. Was wondering if I just don't like country that much. This just felt nice though. Pure songwriting. No flashy production. Simple instrumentation. All just nice and tidy.

70’s Country ⭐️Can I Sleep In Your Arms

Latest episode in my evolving relationship to concept albums. This is a fundamentally different kind of thing to most of the other albums on the list. I enjoyed the story it tells but I can't imagine listening to it more than a couple of times. It's beautiful and elegantly made. The cowboy stuff does all feel a little silly to me, though.

Joda

Et par gullkorn, men ellers meh

Fine.

Pretty stripped-down, with simple acoustic guitar and Nelson's signature voice. Easy to listen to.

I don’t like country music, but I’ll make an exception for Willie Nelson.

It’s not incredibly remarkable, but Nelson’s got such a calming voice. These cowboy songs just get me.

3/5 https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/willie-nelson/red-headed-stranger/ It's pretty fun! I can't say I'm a country guy, so generally Willie Nelson's stuff annoys me a bit, but this I can handle. Also makes me want to play Red Dead Redemption.

Nice

I always want this album to be better. I love Willie and classic country, but it’s kinda just slightly different versions of the same song over and over. That being said, that one song is great.

It's the sweetest, most gentle country record one can imagine. If I liked country a little bit more that would be at least a 4 or maybe even 5.

Y'know I liked this more than I thought I would for a Country album. Still not my taste at all but I could easily have this on in the background and be perfectly content.

I'll take this over pop country any day but it's still not really my thing

3.5 Very pleasant and easy to listen to. I like the second half more, the songs are a bit more complex, a bit more “full.” The first half is a lot of almost song shorts or wisps of ideas.

A gentle collection of lullabies Favourite track: Just as I am

It was fine. Willie is fine. I appreciate his place in music history, if not his actual music, but wouldn’t seek it out.

Yee haw

Not really for me but I like Willie’s voice

it's not my taste, it's a bit monotonous, but some people like it

Heard this a while back and thought it was pretty good for a genre that's not really my thing. Came back to time of the preacher again and again.

Totally fine!

7/10

Likte det mer enn æ tenke æ kom til å gjøre. Fint og sparsommelig arrangement, er gøy når det plutselig er litt mer instrumentering. Gøy med mellomsporet Down Yonder.

Koselig musikk. Stort minus at alle låten e helt lik. Vippes opp til tre stjerne kun fordi det e Willie Nelson.

Hørt på reise, men det passet bare ikke. Jeg tror man må ha fyr i peisen på ei hytte uten dekning for å virkelig få utbytte av denne skiva. Syntes egentlig det er fint, men sanger som Down Yonder gjør at det er noen automatiske skips.

Gas

Perfect litle song cycle about being Willie.

Leaning low 3 but could be convinced to go a little higher. Grew on me on a second listen but likely won't revisit

I went back through Willie Nelson's discography while listening to this album because I've heard his popular stuff but not any of these songs. Something happened to him in the late 60s/early 70s, and he looks like a completely different person. Like he was a normal, basic white dude, and then one album later, suddenly he's fully Willie Nelson. Otherwise, this was nice but pretty generic old school country.

2.5-3.0

I’m not sure if I “get” Willie. I’ve got tons of respect for his career, idealism, independence, playing, etc. But I’ve never fully gotten the mystique. This is a beauty, though.

C'était très apaisant après avoir dû passer par Napalm Death... Mais peut-être un brin TROP apaisant. Difficile de garder les yeux ouverts un matin après avoir eu un cours et avoir peu dormi. Mais tout de même, belles chansons dans l'ensemble et Willie est et restera toujours absolutely goated. Chanson pref : Just as I am (?) Mention honorable : Time of the Preacher qui revient 3 fois en 15 chansons. Tour du chapeau!

j’avais de la misère à respirer au début cause I was afraid he’d call me a slur, mais quand j’ai appris qu’il était de gauche je me suis détendue. oui j’ai des préjugés envers le country, mais je travaille ACTIVEMENT à les défaire et comrade Willie here is playing a huge part in that journey 👊 chanson préférée : me suis surprise à taper du pied à ‘Can I Sleep in Your Arms’ donc je vais y aller avec celle-là

Love Willie Nelson. I think his country style is a lot more palatable and relatable than most of the genre and listening to this I find it interesting that Willie is not an archetype but a one of a kind performer

A nice listen, I didn’t connect with it in a strong way.

His voice is easy on the ears

surprisinly i liked the idea of a concept country album, i liked this songs (Time of the Preacher, Remember me when the candles lights are gleaming, Hands on the Wheel)

Mukavan letkeää country-musiikkia. Mikään biiseistä ei jäänyt erityisesti mieleen, vaan ne vähän kuin sulautuivat toisiinsa. Eikä sen tarvitse olla huono asia. En ollut varmaan ikinä aiemmin kuunnellut Willie Nelsonia.

I am not really a country music fan but it was pretty decent.

Une bonne country très intéressante à découvrir

I like Willie and he and the other musicians sound fantastic. The women killing thing kind of drags this down.

Time of the Preacher - 4/5 I Couldn't Believe It Was True - 4.5/5 Time of the Preacher Theme - 3/5 Medley: Blue Rock Montana / Red Headed Stranger - 3/5 Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain - 3/5 Red Headed Stranger - 5/5 Time of the Preacher Theme - Short Version - 3/5 Just as I Am - 3.5/5 Denver - 3/5 O'er the Waves - 3/5 Down Yonder -4/5 Can I Sleep in Your Arms - 3.5/5 Remember Me (When the Candle Lights Are Gleaming) - 3/5 Hands on the Wheel - 3/5 Bandera - 3/5

I enjoyed the album. Not an immediate choice for me to listen too but would listen again and again.

3.5

Sans plus

Mouais, pas horrible mais pas mon style

Yeee ah cowboy

C'est sympa, le genre d'album que j'aurais pas écouté par moi-même mais qui passe bien en fond

It's a nice folk album. Not sure I would own it but I liked it.

I listened to this record back when I reviewed Atardust a few months back. As a whole, I like this album more than that one… even if it didn’t spend ten straight years on the billboard charts. That said, I can’t say I’m particularly enthralled with either. Sleepy country ballads just aren’t my jam.

Kept waiting for Time of the Preacher to show up a 4th time. Honestly, I could have missed it because these songs are EXTREMELY similar. I understand the Willie love, the guy is iconic for multiple reasons. But this mostly bored me

it's 3.5

Great instrumentation (particularly piano work), and I love Willie's voice, but the genre just isn't really within my tastes.

stvarno dobar i lijep kantri album! ne bih ga nikada ovako iz čista mira slušao, ali baš je lijepo i čil bilo

No muy fan del género. Música muy tranquila y sencilla, no por eso mala música, al contrario, hacer que algo sencillo suene muy bien puede ser retador. Aún así, no es el estilo de música que me gusta escuchar. Lo que me gustó: las letras, son muy poéticas; la forma musical de cada pista es muy buena y ordenada, son como sonetos; el uso de pocos instrumentos y aún así tener un sonido con mucho carácter; no me cansó el disco, la verdad tiene una duración decente y cada pista es disfrutable ya que no es empalagoso con el estilo. En fin, buen disco

Laid back pleasant album.

5/10

He has a voice that you want to spend time with. You could happily listen to it tell you stories for days like a comforting grandpa retelling tales from his youth. Perfectly pleasant without the feel of being groundbreaking. Although I don't know the genre well enough to know whether it might have been.

Compared to some great albums on this list, this felt a bit like a Ferrero Rocher. Small, delightful, not particularly satisfying, but good at what it does. Hearing 2m and sub 2m songs makes a nice change - I just start nodding my head and *poof* its gone. Lyrics are more on the 'outlaw' side, which I always appreciate. Too sweet to give less than a 3, too insubstantial to give more.

Música para señores de rancho. Para levantar la pala con café negro en la mano.

I had no idea what I was expecting going in, but 1. it was not this and 2. I liked what it actually is a lot more than I expected to. I actually sorta hate most country and I think had basically never heard (or clocked that I was listening to anyway) a Willie Nelson song other than On the Road Again. So I was pleasantly surprised by this! Apparently it's also mostly covers of old country tunes, as well. Makes sense, it sounds like it. I especially liked the little honky tonk break that was Down Yonder. The rest of the record is kinda samey (not in a bad way, it's short enough for that) so it was a pleasant little surprise in the back half.

Blue Eyes is a Top 1000 song for me, I love Willie's general "pace", if that makes sense, but nothing else snapped enough for me to be like "yes, a 4 it is", so here we are

"Don't boss him, don't cross him, he's wild in his sorrow." It really seems relevant to keep in mind that murdering someone for attempted horse theft was considered ok back in the wild west? Anyhow, this does seem like a great album within its genre and from this time period. A 3.5 for sure, makes me want to hang out at a camp fire.

Ah Willie. Such a wordsmith. Folks forget what a good guitar player he is. Not just a three chord country guy.

Respect for Willie but not for me

Don’t mind Willie, just wasn’t feeling it today

5/10 When I think of country music, Willie Nelson is the kind of stuff I'm thinking about - not the pop country stuff that pops up on the Billboard 100. That being said... This is good country, but I don't really find it very interesting. Nothing really grabbed me. It's a little too stripped down. His voice is terrific though, pure country. Good for what it is, but not for me.

Good album. Willie has a great voice and the songs are well written. The pared down instrumentation and the mellowness make this an understated album. It's good but nothing grabbed me and made me want to listen again.

Willie Nelson’s music is not my cup of tea. But I do recognize him as an American icon who deserves every respect.

Powerfully sparse. Beautiful soul.

Wow! Willie Nelson has a lovely voice.

I'd like to give this a second listen and see if it strikes me differently. I thought it was good, not great.

Just walking down the middle of that slow sad country road eh? I like Willie Nelson, and I like some of his music, but this didn’t quite connect for me. It was okay, maybe a bit bland? His voice is just class, it’s beautiful, and the music certainly does set a mood. 3.0/5.0 Best Song: Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain

Really wanted to like this album, but it was exceptionally mid. They are perfectly pleasant country tunes, but nothing that really gets you excited.

Not bad but it is kind of self similar throughout. There were times I thought I had it looping or something some of the melodies were so similar. It's good for those downtrodden moods for sure.

He had a really nice voice, and I like the brevity of the songs. They all kinda blend together which kinda gets old over time

Southern charm bottled in fifteen tracks. A lot of simple songs played extravagantly. I found myself expecting but not getting emotional resonance from many of the songs here, despite feeling their honesty. It’s somewhat of a paradoxical concept, but I think it’s rooted from the simplicity of the songs. I went to make it clear that they are simple but not technically dull. However, there also was not a strong tether that I could latch onto and feel heavy emotion from. I have a measure of appreciation of a song like Hands on the Wheel, but I feel like it wasn’t dynamic enough and dragged on. Despite only being slightly over thirty minutes, there are moments where you can still feel the minutes of some songs, which represents a structural problem to me. There is joy in the lightheartedness of the album, and it is something to play to make your day a little sunnier, but there was a deeper element that I found was missing. Faves: I Couldn’t Believe It Was True, Bandera, Can I Sleep in Your Arms, Remember Me (When the Candle Lights Are Gleaming)

Un poco monótona la primera mitad. Si se ve lo influyente que fue para el country posterior, igual me gustó, pero no es precisamente mi género

Overall: 6/10 Not a bad way to spend half an hour. I've always though Willie has a nice voice for specific types of country, and it's definitely the slower stuff here that I enjoy the most. I also like the repeating motifs of this album, they really make it feel like a cohesive piece of work. I did find myself getting a bit tired of his style near the end, and if this was any longer I probably would be giving it a lower rating, but it's a solid album in a genre I still don't have a ton of love for. Fav Song: Red Headed Stranger

***A good,easy listening album

Good sixties album from one of the kings of C&W

Nunca tinha parado para ouvir um álbum country de verdade, foi uma experiência muito interessante. Ele é muito calmo e relaxante de ouvir. "Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain" e "Time of the Preacher" são as melhores para mim.

First country album of this list for me. Feels homey and nostalgia to me.

Easy listening.

Not my thing, but enjoyed the album driving today.

javel // koselig høydepunkt: Down Yonder, Can I Sleep In Your Arms?

Surprised to see Willie Nelson pop back up so soon on here but it’s always welcome. Country music is something i’d never seek out usually but i think if im in the right mood i’d chuck this one Bandera lowkey gave me some animal crossing vibes half way through, thought i accidentally switched tracks

I usually do not listen to country but this album fascinated me. Very bare instrumentation and melancholic voice. I had limited time today to listen to it carefully, but In the future I'll return to it paying closer attention to the lyrics. 3.75/5

Certainly a Willie Nelson album. If you like Willie then you probably love this album as every song sounds like Willie Nelson singing while playing guitar. 6/10

I dont really care much for country, solid record tho

Country's not really my thing. I don't mind some of Willie's works. This was just OK for me.

Country en estado puro, solo voces, guitarras y algún piano. Bastante bueno. Temas cortos y muy agradables. El álbum es muy coherente aunque podría resultar repetitivo, pero no baja su calidad en ningún momento, no tiene temas de relleno aunque muchos suenen muy parecidos. 6/10.

Pretty good, not Willie's best

Its background music - no song really grabs you by the balls

Great for feeling nostalgic and kinda messy

This is the country music i could get behind. However, it seems like there are a few fully mapped out songs and others are just deconstructions of the same lines or sounds

As always, I'm way out of my comfort zone with country music. I like Willie Nelson's voice and lots of the song writing. On this record, I really admired how many of the tracks are less than 2 minutes long, or even under 1 minute. Absolutely no fucking around here - just cranking the song and moving on. I don't have this feeling with many genres or sub-genres (even the first time I hear them), but something about country music tells me this will always be someone else's music, and will never mean much to me. 3.5*

Hey, that's this old guy from Monk!

an interesting concept with really good singing, but even clocking in at a mere 33 minutes, this felt dreadfully slow. it's nice! but slow. maybe i'm just too much of a coastal-elite urbanist city slicker to appreciate outlaw country, but also even for as nice as wilie nelson's singing is, i do generally prefer female vocalists as a side note. this whole album is quaint and charming, but that's about it for me. my only real in roads to country, aside from country-influenced artists who i like (eg, faye webster), is my late grandmother's obsession with garth brooks. it all sounds nearly identical to me.

I spent a lot of my teenage years in a rural island in Canada and people there were very proud of being from the "country" and I god damn hated it. My hour-and-a-half school journey on the bus played exclusively country music, and every friend of the family I was forced to visit would give the same spiel nearly everytime about how "new country sucks, but that old country? That's the good stuff." Then they'd get drunk on piss water beer and listen to albums like this. You'd think that would mean I've grown a deep hatred of albums like this but it has instead created a perverse nostalgia. So despite this being an album I do have to mark down for being so damn slow for the most part, I did still find it kind of charming. It's far from the best country album I've heard, again it is just too slow for me, but it has some pretty nice singing and a concept throughline that almost kept me engaged! Almost!

I liked it, was a little slower than music I usually listen to but it was nice

A few great songs

it just all begins to blend together and I hate to say it but the vocals begin to sound quack-ish. not enough edge

Normally I love a concept album, but something about the genre of this one makes it feel a bit like a caricature of itself. I feel like I’m inside a western. I’m sure it’s for someone, but it’s not for me!

6 - AVERAGE

3.5

This was the palate cleanser I needed after yesterday's album. I don't even like country very much, but at least this album has personality. Truthfully, I don't have much to say about it. It's very easy listening. There's something about Willie's voice that speaks to me. Strong 3

I wonder if he's ever smoked a joint

Dang Willie could write a song

was pretty decent, another classic. i usually don't listen to old country like this, so it's not really my style, but i thought it was really well written. i liked can i sleep in your arms and time of the preacher and its recurrence throughout the album. 6/10

not my tempo but i enjoyed parts of it thoroughly

This puffs for you Willie

enjoyed this more than i thought i would

Not really into country but it was a good listen.

Classic but boring and all songs sounded the same

Solid country album. I like a bit of Willie and it was interesting to look back a bit into his catalogue. Made me go back to his first album, which i also really enjoyed.

very quick, not totally my vibe but I did enjoy the casual listen

Really nice

I’m not generally a fan of country music. This album however I found side 1 quite compelling. Side 2 was not so much to my taste. A little too ho down…

Interesting to read the history of this and also the creative control meaning it stayed in its original form and then 💥. Let’s see… Maybe hadn’t fully noticed the quality in his voice before. A relaxing, sweet mosey through this story and journey. Settling in a way. Enjoyed it being a concept album and his talent. Didn’t grab me in a 😱 way, but more than pleasant enough (3.5)

I don’t how long the regular version of this is as I ended up listened to the Expanded Edition which had 19 tracks - although still only came in at under 43 mins. The songs are certainly not long ones are they! It was fine, but not something I’d go out of my way to listen to again.

Didn't set me on fire but ai do enjoy a country ballard

Willie!!! Of course Willie is a classic artist in pop culture and someone who has reshaped country music in his decades long career. I know the hits, but again haven’t really sat down and ever listened to an album. Time of the Preacher This is one of my favorite genres/styles of country music - the true storytelling of it all. This sounds like an epic set up, like a true villain origin story. I take it to mean that this preacher really didn’t know what he was talking about prior to his love leaving him and was basically talking to talk, but after going through this breakup he had to get serious and start learning what his life is going to be like without this love I Couldn’t Believe It Was True Aw a lil breakup song. He can’t believe his love is no longer there but seems to want the best for her, even if that’s without him. He seems to still be reeling from the shock of the breakup. Time of the Preacher Okay he seems to be moving out of sadness now and maybe into anger? “The lesson is over and the killin’s begun” so he went from preaching to learning to killing now ??? Yikes. This one def feels darker. Blue Rock Montana Uh oh, aparently this long lost love went off with another man. And he killed them both????? Damn Willie. Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain Aw this one is sad. Does he feel bad that he killed his old lover? I can see this song working as a way to reminisce about his lost love because she left him but also now being dead he may be mouring her. The guitar in this one is beautiful. Red Headed Stranger Ok so HE is the red headed stranger after he killed the love of his life for cheating. Each chorus explaining how everyone basically just needs to leave him alone in his grief. Uh oh, now a new woman is getting involved…and is also now dead because she “crossed him”. Time of the Preacher v2 Is this story finally ending while not really ending? Basically saying life moves on. Another gorg guitar. Just as I Am - Instrumental Denver Oh okay so he’s fine now in Denver, he’s moved on? He’s talking about smiling with this new woman now (similar to how he killed his old lover in Blue Rock Montana) but now is able to smile again after she hurt him. O’er the Waves - Instrumental Down Yonder - Instrumental Can I Sleep in Your Arms This one is wayyyy slower. Very sweet, he’s basically begging this new woman to love him after he’s picked up the pieces of his old lover screwing him over. He seems to be opening up again. Gorggggg piano at the end here. Remember Me (When the Candles are Gleaming) He WAS faithful and loving to this woman until she did him dirty. Now he’s saying that all of that is null and void basically. The vows from before mean nothing and he’s moving on. He almost wants this woman to remember him and remember their time together because it probably was good at one point and he was good to her; almost wanting her to sit at night and think about them (even though she’s dead now?) Hands on the Wheel This one is such an open love song, it’s beautiful. “With no place to hide, I looked in your eyes and found myself in you,” He feels like he has a more intentional grasp on this relationship after living his life (he is now an old man) and knowing his life was meant to be with this new woman he found after his mess of grief and pain. Nelson has SUCH an emotional voice for this song it’s heartbreaking. It really feels like the closer for this album and this story - like he’s made peace. Bandera - instrumental Listening to this, this feels like a time for reflection over the red headed stranger’s life and how he is finally at peace and life does continue to go on. From preaching to learning to killing to healing, while not exactly in those exact terms (don’t kill people), this album can be used to accompany the span of many human emotions after pain and finally come to a place of acceptance. Overall - 6.8 Wow what a quick album!! I didn’t give each song an individual rating because most were like a minute long, but I really liked this album. Super cohesive and emotional delivery from Willie. There is clear imagery used here to build the world of a 1901 western and I really felt pulled in. It’s also a masterclass in arrangement as many of these songs were not written for this album, but were covers that have been made to fit into the story here. I can’t see myself reaching for this body of work in terms of re-listenability, but I love how simple and beautiful these songs ended up coming together.

Repetitive/themed but I see why it made the list. Rhymes were fun.

pleasant country music

Fun listen, just not my type of music

na początku buja główką ale jest tak nudne pod koniec to gówno brzmi cały czas tak samo

Just fine

not my style but some songs stood out

Not too shabby country, all things considered!

Short songs on a short album that has hooks and doesn't overstay its welcome. Top tracks: "Down Yonder," "Red Headed Stranger," "Hands on the Wheel"

very slow yet relaxing

All the songs on this album sounded the same. It was a good sound, but I didn’t need to hear it for 33 minutes straight

these are all generally good songs and i love folk but got boring after awhile

Love the harmonica but so much filler

Time of the preaaaacherrrrrr. It was okay

Really Nice Country Album. I‘m a fan

Fine. Could throw on in the background, but its not something I'm seeking out. It's friggin Willie Nelson, what do you expect?

Super chill country folk. Det er super godt at lytte til, men jeg synes tracks falder sammen. Det er ikke nødvendigvis skidt i sig selv, det gør det bare rigtig godt at lytte samlet til synes jeg.

Good Ole Willie Nelson. Not much to say but it was a great country album Songs saved: Time of the Preacher, I Couldn't Believe It Was True, Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain, Red Headed Stranger, Hands on the Wheel 7/10

6/10

Nice easy listening willie

Wel leuk, geinige overgangen tussen nummers. Maar wel teveel hetzelfde, ook naar mijn mening te vaak een nummer herhalend in het album

Sounds lovely, but mildly meandering lyrically

Not bad, but not really my thing either. Closer than I would have expected though.

chill mais au final la majorité des chansons m'ont pas emportée et j'ai trouvé ça assez répétitif mais après vsy c de la country je suis pas habituée

I know some of his hits, not many. I'm looking forward to giving this record a spin. Okay, one song in, "Time of the Preacher", and now "Bottles & Bibles" by Tyler Childers sounds like a reimagining. I had " Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" already favorited. I really like how warm the production sounds on most of these songs. "Can I Sleep in Your Arms" is great too. While I don't see me adding this album to the rotation, I liked it.

Sve što znam o Willie Nelsonu prije slušanja ovog albuma je da je bio u epizodi Monka. Inače je country žanr koji najslabije prolazi kod mene ali ovo ne mogu da mrzim nikako. Klasa za sebe je Willie.

Perfectly serviceable country. Prefer more of a Johnny Cash style though.

Odotin vähän enemmän. Aika tasapaksua

I found this album pleasant, which is a good start for a genre not well worn by myself.  It had a gentle flow with a warm vibe about it (especially the vocal). I do enjoy the delicate rolling plucks of the guitar and the odd nimble bass dropping in.  It also had a variation of pace which was welcome (though predominently slow).  It was this that kept its focus on my mind while I got on with things.   My main complaint is it failed to really find a massive shift in the presentation of the music.  This lead it away from being majorly compelling.  Perhaps a bit dull / simplistic in the end but in contradition a dull I quite enjoyed.

Although I have never been an overt fan of Willie, I am into a few things that could be described as Willie-adjacent so was happy to give it a go. I can see the quality, I get that if you are a serious Willie fan you would enjoy the simplicity and rawness. Its a stripped back, exposed performance which probably connects with enthusiasts. Unfortunately, I found the overall performance pretty limp. There were a couple of spurts of interest, but they came and went throughout the album and didn't last very long. By the end of the session, my disinterest in Willie was confirmed. Totally acceptable but not an experience I will be returning to.

Not as good as the last Willie album but still pretty solid.

I don’t know much about country music but it’s undeniable the distinct singing voice that this guy has. This style of country from this era sounds nice and warm, a very friendly and inviting listen. There’s really nothing offensive about this and it doesn’t sound like it’s pushing any boundaries but I suppose that would be the point. I would have to listen to a whole lot more country albums, especially from this era, to really make any sort of judgement about whether this album is necessary listening or not. For now it was just a pleasant listen. I’m not sure if I would ever have any reason to return to this album however I’m pretty sure I’m going to check out some other albums by him. p.s. As I get further into this project I’m realizing how much an album’s context in one’s life would influence the feeling that one would have of a particular album being essential and a must listen. Even if I don’t understand an album or a certain style of music I’m usually not that bothered by the music and wholly realize my failures to understand the music deeply is dependent on the way my life has been lived up to this point but I am quite sure that it’s possible to get to a good level of understanding somehow depending on situations of my life in the future.

Angenehm anzuhören, aber nicht so meins.

Enjoyable and not too long Willie. Just how I like it.

These songs could be described as country bagatelles. With a couple of exceptions, all the songs are very short. Almost half are under two minutes. The longer ones have the obvious advantage of allowing build-up and progression within a track, which Can I Sleep in Your Arms (the longest song here) does well, and which Hands on the Wheel does less well. I found myself thinking about Willie's Stardust album (which I've heard already and given a 4). But I have very little memory of it, so this is sort of a fresh slate. I think both are pretty Dylanesque, and maybe a bit "behind their time" – there's nothing that really speaks to the year 1975 or anywhere past it. Indeed, Red Headed Stranger could've been from the year 1960 and I wouldn't've have batted an eye. The first four tracks are pretty similar to one another and could reasonably be mistaken. Apart from I Couldn't Believe It Was True being slightly faster in pace, they're all slow, mildly dragging pieces with pretty melodies and extremely simple instrumentation and chord progressions. Blue Eyed Crying In the Rain is a subtle but appreciated improvement, the high acoustic guitar solo being a big highlight. Red Headed Stranger is a solid continuation of the higher-energy pieces and is another highlight. Can Willie continue the streak? ...No. The "Short Version" of Time of the Preacher should just be left out of the discussion, though the track it leads into, Just as I Am, introduces a lovely piano part, which is continued a few tracks later with the straightforward ragtime instrumental Down Yonder. 3/5 Key tracks: I Couldn't Believe It Was True, Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain, Red Headed Stranger

I didn't particularly like it; I didn't particularly dislike it. Not my favourite genre of music by a country mile.

This was ok. Country is not my thing but this was decent to listen to.

Classic Willie. What more could you ask for

Willie Nelson is a national treasure. His songwriting and singing voice are so expressive. Nothing reached out to grab me on this album — no songs i recognized or needed to hear again immediately. But the album is cohesive and wonderful and represents Willie well. A 3.

Good album, not a giant Willie fan but this wasn’t bad.

First listen

You know, after only getting to hear On The Road Again, it’s nice to expand on Willie Nelson. From this album, I consider him on the better end of country music. I like how the music’s more calm than corny, like a lot of other classic country albums. It’s a nice concept album too, though I wish it didn’t warrant hearing Time of the Preacher 3 times. And also the album starts to drag a bit on side 2. I think I lost track of the concept by O’er the Waves. It’s certainly one of the better country albums I’ve gotten, though from me, that’s not saying much. Favorite track: Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain Other hits: I Couldn’t Believe It Was True, Red Headed Stranger, Just As I Am, Can I Sleep In Your Arms, Bandera

Vintage Willie.

This was fine

Not a big Willie fan but it was rather chill

I really enjoyed this! I'm a sucker for singer-songwriter music (although it has to be good)...

ont my favourite kind of music, but probably the best of the style ive heard at least (which is not much)

Willie Nelson's ability to tell a story with his voice and his guitar are unmatched.

beautiful

I hardly ever listen to country music, but this album was easy on my ears. The crisp, clean guitar tone grew on me. But somehow, no matter how many times I listened, it still didn’t hit me as much as I hoped it would. I almost feel a bit disappointed in myself for that.

Quaint little album. Gives you the vibe of sitting by a campfire on the prairie. The tracks all feel pretty similar, but it's a peaceful vibe, sometimes somber, sometimes reflective. Most songs are very short, around two minutes. But the strongest track is probably the longest one - "Can I Sleep in Your Arms." I also liked "Blue eyes crying in the rain," the title track "Red Headed Stranger," and "Time of the Preacher"

This one's really stripped down, not as much as a rambler as his 70s stuff usually is. It's a unique approach for Willie and it does sound like it's recorded privately for a small audience which has its appeal. But even though Willie was not in the habit of doing this, it wasn't particularly uncommon for country, folk or adult contemporary artists to try it out & the songs on this are a lot hokier than Townes Van Zandt, for example. The Apple Music write-up name drops McCabe and Mrs. Miller in a feeble attempt to appeal to me specifically but that movie notably uses Leonard Cohen & with all due respect to Willie, him and Leonard are quite different. What Red Head Stranger reminds me more of is the Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid soundtrack, which - despite having Knockin' On Heaven's Door - is not one of my preferred Dylan albums. Favorite Tracks: I Couldn't Believe It Was True, Red Headed Preacher, Can I Sleep In Your Arms, Bandera

One of the best voices ever, even if the songs didn't grab me

All of the tracks on this one kinda of sound the same, which is fine because its Willie.

I really did enjoy this. It's unusual and interesting.

i was really surprised by the variety of genre here. i added discraceland eps to my queue to learn more about willie nelson, its a two parter so that has me intrigued. i doubt ill listen again

His eighteenth album. Country. Stripped back music. Simple sounds with great lyrical stories being told. I am not a huge fan of Country but this is a good album.

Another country classic. Favorite track: Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain

Very much old fashioned country. Not unpleasant, but nothing really stands out to me either.

I'm not a country guy but this is better than average country so I can give it a 3. Still don't like the entire basis of the genre though.

i usually would dislike country but this album wasn't very over the top and had some good sounds I enjoyed, but I don't think I would revisit it much at all.

I liked this more than I thought. But it doesn’t really explain how Willie Nelson is a household name.

Good.

idk standard fare for country music

Enjoyed the album, I love a concept album! There were some real highlights (Blue Eyes Crying in The Rain) but also some less enjoyable bits (the instrumental songs)

At its best it reminds me of Jonny Cash

There is absolutely nothing subversive or surprising about Red Headed Stranger. Willie Nelson is as straight up as they come providing some truly robust country music that is often wistful and occasionally (my favourite bits) even a little romantic. There is an admirable confidence and clarity to the performances which never leave you in any doubt that Nelson knows how to craft a song.

It is, a solid 3 from me, nice narrative style and good sounds but never gripped me

not really my thing, but i appreciate the artistry

3.5

I don't have a lot to say about this. I'm not a huge country fan but this was a fine listen although really failed to do a lot beyond provide a background soundtrack. Generally it was a bit slow and ponderous b perhaps in another context it would work better.

I'm glad I gave it a listen. There's some beautiful subtle details, especially with the guitar work, and the lyrics are enunciated clearly. This is a concept album done right. A little too Americana for me, though. I think I need more time to adequately rate this, it feels more complex and mature as the listens multiply, and it's an easy listen to repeat as long as you're in a relaxed mood. 2.8/5

It's not bad, but nothing jumped out enough to rate it higher. Possibly better on relistens, but who's got time for that?

Anodyne

Slightly sleepy country. 3.

Entspannter Western. Hab ich gern gehört 6,5/10

It was fine, but admittedly a little too sad cowboy for me to really get into.

Like it, especially the singing. Probably wouldn’t listen again. Found most of the songs too short almost like they’re over before they start.

Nice collection of country songs. Good production and a sort of concept album. Don’t really like his voice though. Can imagine it better with a Nebraska era Bruce or even Jonny Cash.

Not the worst thing I have listened to…average album.

Unfortunately I had written a long review and the page refreshed and got lost, so suffice to say I'm not an aficionado on Country but do own some Willie and like some of his work. This one is okay, but I dislike the Time of the Preacher theme and it comes in 3 times, and by the last one I'm reaching for the stop button. Blue Eyes in the Rain and Can I Sleep in Your Arms are highlights, as they are less about a concept and more about feeling (but worryingly neither are written by Nelson). There are a series of very short songs in the middle of the album which don't appeal to me like the standard Over the Water and then honky-tonk of Down Yonder. So overall with the few highs (the title song is also good) but many underwhelming lows, I can only give it a 3, but have struggled with this and had to listen to it a few times as I'm really not sure (so may revisit).

Fine

Moj prvi instinkt je, da mi tole ne bo všeč. Komadi so kar kratki; na albumu je 15 komadov, konc si pa v 33 minutah. Načeloma je neka zgodba (naj bi bil concept album) in Willie s svojim malce žalostnim glasom pripoveduje o možakarju, ki je na begu, potem ko je ubil ženo & njenega ljubimca. En komad je bil tko trikrat ("Time of the Preacher"). "Down Yonder" je hiter klavirski jig, en prej je bil pa valček-like ("O'er the Waves"). Najdaljši komad na albumu (5 minut, 24 sekund!) je v bistvu cover komada "Can I Sleep in Your Arms". Lep komad. Not for me, ampak ne morš pa trdit, da je slaba muska.

Alright country. Not my style but nothing to complain about, enjoyed his voice. Not quite sure I've ever actually listened to more than 2 of his songs

Not a big country fan. Very sombre music. Willie Nelson has a great voice.

I hadn't heard Willie Nelson before this and was surprised by how great a voice he had. I'm looking forward to hearing more, though this album's format wasn't my favorite.

I feel like I’ve listened to Willie Nelson my whole life, but this might be the first time I listened to a full record from top to bottom. I enjoyed it immensely. 3.5.

Litt gammel country. Passet fint å høre på dette albumet mens vi fyrte i bålpanna.

I’ve heard the name Willie Nelson. However, I hadn’t listened to anything before today. Unfortunately, I do not like country, but I will give this one a 3 despite that because Willie seems like a stand up guy!!

Ok here are the complaints right up front, three tracks are the same song, there are 5 interlude tracks, two tracks are “red headed stranger”, with a total of 15 songs under 33mins. Now this isn’t a complaint about how short the album is, I typically prefer shorter albums. The complaint is that of those 15 songs there’s actually only like 7 original songs, that’s kinda crazy. Like so much of this album is very clearly just ambient tasters. I do like the vibe but as a whole it makes the album feel alittle too cohesive and it just flies by. It’s another album where I listened to it several times over because I wouldn’t catch the ending, and it just flows seamlessly that you don’t even notice 8 songs just went by. Honestly this is a classic country, and I’ve always struggled with country, I found most of the tracks on this album to be pretty boring and lackluster, I feel that the last Willie album I got (Stardust) was wildly superior to this album in every way. But that being said I really loved “hands on the wheel”, “Denver”, and “I couldn’t believe it was true”. I think Willie Nelson is a timeless treasure with a lifetime of hits and awesome collabs. But this album specifically I think is one of his most overrated. Not bad, not great, just overrated and pretty good.

Fun album to listen to…classic country.

271/1089 - Sounds like country music

i blinked and it was half way over. it was okay but like wow this was a brief album

Very relatable and remembered so me songs I’d forgotten about. Lovely to hear the way back of WN.

The Austin man himself! Vulnerable, somber, yet hopeful throughout. Feels like an intimate conversation with a friend.

I am not a fan of most country music, but I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. I've never listened to Willie before now.

Not usually into country but this was actually pretty good.

This ain't Waylon and I'm not nearly beefed enough to "get" this kind of wacky music

The instrumentals on this were really good and the other stuff was good

El anterior disco de Nelson me pareció una maravilla. A ver este. No está tan bien, pero da gusto escucharlo.

Quite a nice listen. To me a bit samey but what do I know. Good though.

Better than I expected

Not bad at all! Country doesn't always translate very well outside the US, so usually it goes over my head. But this is an album that is put together with a lot o thought and intention. Even if a lot of these songs are covers of old tunes, they are arranged in such a way that the whole thing flows like a narrative concept album. Key tracks: Time of the Preacher

tja

7/10

The title track makes me feel nostalgic for a time I never knew.

Sweet and melodic, but nothing groundbreaking 3.4

Good album, nice texts, little monotone

Good background country album for that rare moments in my life I need a country album.

I’m never gonna be a big country fan but it wasn’t bad

Willie's great. This was a nice listen - though I'll admit it didn't stand out enough for me to want to listen on repeat. Would enjoy it perfectly well if it came up in the wild!

So smooth. Not many better with just a guitar and their voice. Album was OK

Wanted to like it but it left me underwhelmed. Wasn’t captivating enough. Distracted by other things though

Je ne suis pas un fan de country mais je dois dire que c'était un album musicalement intéressant et relaxant. Ce n'est pas mémorable pour moi mais j'ai apprécié la découverte.

I mean it’s Willie, and pretty short. Nothing wrong with it but likely won’t listen again

Not bad Willy

Honestly could've been worse. I'm not a huge country fan, but I found Willie's voice to be quite soothing

hmm. Interesting, good voice. Really good voice.

6/10

A fine traditional country album. Real folksy and inviting. Like a reminder of a bygone era.

I have to laugh at the fact that the song "Red Headed Stranger"--about a man who is acquitted of killing a woman for trying to steal the horse of his lost love--was written by a woman. Of course, Willie Nelson made the lost love an unfaithful woman. He kills her and her lover. Poor red headed stranger. I was about to call this a soundtrack-to-a-nonexistent-movie, but it turns out they did turn Red Headed Stranger into a film starring Willie himself in 1986. According to the plot synopsis, it does appear they left out the part where Willie kills a woman for trying to steal his horse.

Country is fine. I don't like Willie Nelson specifically. Just want that fact known. 3 stars for the music. 0 stars for Willie.

Not a fan of country but I like Willie. This was easy to get through.

Felt like Willie was singing by a camp fire at a ranch as people went to sleep one by one. Little too slow for me through the album although his voice has a soothing feel to it and the simple melodies were easy listening.

The music is easy on the ear. A lot of love songs - I guess he’s in love with the red headed stranger. I really liked the piano on the last song. Not my cup of tea but I get why people like his music. 3 stars.

Good, not great, album. Remember Me was a highlight, but the whole thing is nice relaxing easy listening, without the distractions of breaking new musical ground or experimenting with a new sound.

Not bad. Didn't mind the folk twang and his voice. Definitely a time and place kind of sound.

Um estilo pouco explorado por mim, sem critérios pra avaliar.

Background music for a western. It is good. 3 stars

My first exposure to Willie. Great voice and vibe.

Enjoyed it. I normally don’t like this genre but Willie is on his own tier.

“What a warm, pleasant album,” I thought while playing this in the background as I worked and ate dinner. *Reads Wikipedia entry about the story* I guess not so pleasant after all… I enjoyed listening to this throughout the day and I wouldn’t mind revisiting it, but I don’t know if this would go up to a 4 for me after getting to know it better. Random side note: I went to school with a guy named Willy (with a y) Nelson, well before I’d ever heard of Willie. I remember teachers etc. being like, “Really? That’s your name??” I’m sure that wasn’t annoying for him at all…

One of the few country artists I am familiar with and can actually appreciate due to his role in the highwaymen(and his solo career I guess). This album had some great storytelling and acoustic guitar, both of those things is basically what the album consisted of but it was done well, especially with Nelson’s iconic country vocals (second only to Johnny Cash), their was a few instances of other instruments like piano, drums and harmonica, this was especially true for the instrumentals, which were probably my favourite of the album, mainly due to the fact that it had more of a focus on engaging instrumentation as it lacked the vocal aspect, the album length is a nice change of pace as well, clearly not bloated and focused on telling what he wanted to tell, although it did sound a bit like generic country sometimes and was a bit repetitive with the way he delivered vocals and the guitar as well despite being played really well, had that country twang to it which made it feel more of the same, although Wilke Nelson was one of the innovators of this style of music so I guess it’s fair. Favourites: Just as I am, O`er the waves, Down yonder and remember me. Overall, 6/10.

The Nelsler Damn he really played the same two songs six times Can I sleep in your arms tonight? I sure hope so this song makin a gangsta eepy

A more serious C&W singer but some good instrumentals. Wouldn’t seek out more really

Didn't mind this one! Can definitely see the inspiration from the Marty Robbins album I got earlier, but in the same vein I can't see any of these standing out in particular. Just an enjoyable twangy listen.

Great instrumentation and storytelling/songwriting. Each track flows pretty well into the next. It's kind of like one big track. Favourite Track(s): Medley, Can I Sleep In Your Arms Least Favourite Track(s): Denver

Cowboy country. Harmonica. Saloon type stuff. Enjoyable.

Fine to good. I like Willie and this era of country music, but this album just didn’t speak to me. I did like Down Yonder and Can I Sleep in Your Arms. 5/10, 3 stars.

It was a fun album to listen to. One that you can’t help but dance to.

After the album concluded, Billy Strings popped into the queue, which I liked a lot more.

don't like country; good listen tho

🎵 Album #51 / Willie Nelson – Red Headed Stranger (1975) 🗯 Two concept albums in two days — yesterday’s was a screenplay, today’s is a ghost story. Where Mike Skinner packed A Grand Don’t Come for Free with chatter and detail, Willie strips everything back to the bone. Red Headed Stranger is as sparse as country ever got: voice, guitar, piano, the occasional brush of drums. Columbia thought it sounded like a demo — turns out it became one of the greatest outlaw country statements ever pressed. The story’s bleak — a preacher-gunslinger wandering after killing his wife and her lover — but the delivery is haunting in its understatement. Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain is the obvious classic, and the rest feels like parables told at closing time, half-whispered over an empty glass. Verdict: Respectable (a classic in country lore, but not essential for me personally) For fans of: Townes Van Zandt, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, storytelling with all the edges showing

Necesito que la corten con este country que es igual en todo tiempo y lugar que se haga Nota: 2.5

Camping near a river

Good ol' cowboy sound

Not an album I would normally listen to but a lovely concept album and a great listen!

I've never loved country, but if I'm gonna listen to country, make it this country.

Very simple stuff. Mostly just a guy and a guitar. I'm not that into country, but this was okay.

I like the concept for this concept album, and I'd like to like Willie Nelson more, but while this grew on me after a second listen, I still had trouble connecting with it.

I don't really know Willie Nelson the performer, just Willie Nelson the persona. Obviously this isn't my genre, but I didn't hate this. The songs are perfectly short -- one good idea, not drug out, like a good punk album. I didn't have time to get sick of songs before he was on to his next idea, though they are all cut from the same cloth. I appreciated how lively and present it was. "I Couldn't Believe It Was True" felt like it was recorded in my living room, in a good way. Still, I was ready to move on halfway through, which is only like 15 minutes of music, and I can't imagine pulling it up again. Yet another example of a very good version of a thing that's not for me.

We disagreed on this one, he liked the instrumentals better than the vocals but I'm a much bigger country fan than he is. Splitting our votes (me 4, him 2)

His EighTEENTH album? Mr. Willie Nelson really was churning that music out. Honestly, this album's really lovely – in a melancholic way. Makes me want to take an ol' pickup down one of these dirt roads and have a good cry.

3 out of 5 WILLIE! I am not a country fan but he is legend. Fire one up, and kick back to some outlaw country. Few songs were really slow but was pretty good overall.

Still need to finish but 15 songs in 33 min is wild. I like

He’s better on collab albums

Decent enough. Willie is ight

“We got both kinds of music: Country and Western!” Growing I always associated the two genres without really having a context. When country hit in the ‘90s I assumed that’s what it was all like. Now I know different: this album may be the best example of western …ever. The entire time I wanted to look up at the open sky from the range, tip my Stetson back, sip the whiskey and listen the fire crackle. I don’t really have a context to speak against this album but I can say I didn’t hate it. Songs like Denver were fun in due to our native roots, while Down Yonder was a knee-slapper and a Dosie-Do! Red Headed Stranger was very singer-songwriter along with the opener Time of the Preacher. I know this album was produced in the 1970s but it feels like an Americana time capsule in kind of a cool way.

Random thoughts: * I have never listened to a Willie Nelson album before. Of course, I'm familiar with a few of his big hits. * This was a nice listen while I folded laundry. * There were so many short songs on this one. I'm not sure I understand what Willie was going for. * I did enjoy to hear a shout out to Denver! I wanted a bit more to grab on to but it was short and sweet. * Apparently this is a concept/them album. They even made a movie with the story!

Slow paced old country

This one was weird, like Willie and Austin TX. I wanted to rate this a 2 for all the repeats of Day of the Preacher but kept being surprised by other quiet triumphs.

Quite a cool little concept record, with recurring moments throughout. Won't put it on all that often but happy to have listened.

Easy listening. Reminds me of those old Westerns I watched l, as a child.

3.0 - Ok

I’m sorry Reilly this just isn’t my taste

This style of music will just never be my thing. It was pleasant enought though

Pleasant but nothing popped out at me. Looking forward to listening to one of his more lively ones

This album is from a genre I'm a complete foreigner to, country music. Immediately off my first listen I was captivated by Willie Nelson's voice. Country music is often times too slow or too melodic to me, but Nelson's storytelling kept me captivated throughout the whole experience. From when the Preacher man kills his wife to where he realizes he will never have the love he once knew. As someone who doesn't listen to any country music or tried to, this album thoroughly impressed me and has opened my eyes to delving more into the genre. Although I wasn't hooked on any one specific song, I see myself going back to this album again and eventually growing more attuned to the style of country. A pleasant change of pace in the music I normally listen to and a wonderful album experience. If I were to pick three of my favorite songs it would be Can I Sleep in Your Arms, Time of the Preacher, and Red Headed Stranger

A bit yodel-country for me, but clearly an important work. 3 stars for influence and longevity.

Willie sounds crushing but the arrangements are pretty friggin' meh.

I listen to this a lot

I really enjoyed this! Not traditionally an outflow country super fan but glad to have heard this